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Non-Aligned summit in Cuba

2006-10-29 / Pauline Boyer

118 member states from the Non-Aligned Movement gathered in Havana between September 11th and 16th for a summit that Cuba will lead for the next three years.

Fidel Castro, still convalescent, left the presidency of the event to his brother Raúl, who insisted on the need of revitalizing the movement. The final declaration condemns terrorism, calls for a greater role of developing countries within the UN reform, criticizes US and Israeli politics, and supports the Iranian nuclear program. The document also emphasizes, quite ironically, “the significant importance attached by the Movement to the promotion and protection of human rights and commitment to fulfil obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all”. However, according to Reporters without Borders, this did not stop the Cuban government from expelling a number of foreign journalists so that they were unable to cover the event.